Badgers, UW-Madison partner on ‘It’s On Us’ campaign

October 14, 2015

UW–Madison has joined the national “It’s on Us” campaign to stop sexual assault and will showcase an “It’s On Us” video during the Homecoming football game Oct. 17.

“We are pleased to join with campus in raising awareness of this issue,” UW Director of Athletics Barry Alvarez says. “We are constantly educating our staff and student-athletes about creating an environment in which sexual assault is unacceptable and survivors are supported, and this is a great way for us to share that message.”

Campus units including University Health Services (UHS), the Division of Intercollegiate Athletics, the UW Police Department, the Division of Student Life and more than 40 student leaders are participating in the campaign.

All members of the campus community are asked to log on to itsonus.org and take the pledge as a personal commitment to end sexual assault. The pledge is a promise to be a part of the solution and recognize that non-consensual sex is sexual assault.

The series of “It’s On Us” videos will be played at home games at Camp Randall Stadium, the Kohl Center and LaBahn Arena, and shared this fall through campus social media.

The videos supplement annual sexual assault bystander intervention programs for student-athletes in their Student-Athlete Development curriculum with University Health Services, and trainings for coaches and athletic department employees with the Title IX Coordinator and the Division of Student Life.

“It’s On Us” was launched in partnership with the White House last year and has been championed by celebrities such as Kerry Washington, Josh Hutcherson and Questlove. Numerous UW student-athletes, including Vitto Brown, Corey Clement and Sydney McKibbon, took part in the videos along with Alvarez, Men’s Hockey Coach Mike Eaves, and other athletics staff. There are also appearances by campus leaders such as UHS Executive Director Sarah Van Orman, Police Chief Susan Riseling and Dean of Students Lori Berquam.

“Sexual assault affects the health and well-being of our entire community,” Van Orman says. “Partnering with UW Athletics and the university to create these videos allows people to see the work we are doing on campus to end sexual assault and sexual misconduct. The message is clear: We are all responsible to end sexual assault.”

“’It’s On Us’ shares a message to our fans across the country that we can create an environment that supports survivors,” Alvarez says. “We feel it is important to communicate to our student-athletes, staff and fans our support of this mission. I am proud to have been a part of the video.”